People Moves: Penn National Insurance Announces Leadership Changes for 2026

Penn National Insurance, headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is making changes to its leadership team effective in early 2026.

After over 30 years with the company, including more than five as president and CEO, Robert Brandon will transition to CEO on January 5, 2026. John Foster, currently senior vice president of Insurance Operations, will become president and join the company’s board of directors. He will assume the CEO role following Brandon’s retirement on July 1, 2026.

Brandon joined Penn National Insurance in 1995 as a property underwriting line of business manager and progressed through several underwriting leadership roles. He became executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2014, and president and CEO in 2020.

Foster joined Penn National Insurance in 2006 as vice president of Personal Lines, was named vice president of underwriting operations in 2015, and promoted to his current role in 2020. Before joining Penn National Insurance, Foster held roles at Grange Mutual Insurance, Geico Direct and Erie Insurance Group.

Also, effective January 5, Randal Mancini, currently vice president of Field Operations, will be promoted to senior vice president of Insurance Operations. He will oversee commercial and personal lines underwriting, field operations, distribution and claims. He will join the company’s executive leadership team, which reports directly to Foster.

Mancini joined Penn National 25 years ago and has held several leadership roles, including vice president, commercial lines, and regional vice president of the Harrisburg branch office. He currently manages all agency-facing roles, including the company’s six regional branch offices, as well as premium audit and loss control functions.

Topics Leadership